I Spent 90 Hours Testing Face Washcloths, and These 14 Are the Best (2024)

TL;DR

Our favorite washcloths overall arePai Twin Flyer Cloths. We love the soft, ultra-absorbent organic cotton material and appreciate how the double-sided design allows you to cleanse and exfoliate. But if you're looking for something a bit more basic and wallet-friendly, you can go wrong withAmazon Basics Fast-Drying Absorbent Washcloths, which come in packs of 24 or 60.

Our Top Picks

Material: 100% organic cotton | Size: Small | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: Off-white | Machine Washable: Yes

There’s a lot to love about this washcloth. First, it’s double-sided—one side is muslin for exfoliation, and the other is flannel for cleansing and removing makeup. It’s made of 100% organic cotton, meaning it’s unlikely to irritate the skin, and at $19 for three cloths, it’s relatively affordable.

The feel is very soft and luxurious (more so on the flannel side, but the muslin side is soft as well), so I gave it five for the overall feel. The muslin side is incredibly exfoliating, earning itself a score of five for exfoliation as well. It’s nice and small, too, which I love; it’s never fun when a washcloth takes up too much space.

The one downside of this washcloth is that it won’t remove all of your makeup. While it wiped away my tinted moisturizer, cheek tint, and concealer easily, it just wasn’t a match for my waterproof mascara (which I learned throughout this testing process was incredibly hard to remove in general), so I gave it a four for makeup removal.

Material: Facial flannel/100% PVA | Size: Small | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: White | Machine Washable: No

The Body Shop’s washcloths cost just $6.50 each and are wrapped individually, making them a great budget-friendly pick for both at-home and on-the-go cleansing. Crafted from 100% flannel, they’re quite soft on the skin, though not crazy soft (I gave them a softness score of four). They’re quite good for makeup removal if you use them while very wet, though they did leave behind some of my mascara, which is to be expected. When it comes to exfoliation, they do a so-so job.

Other than the fact that they’re more effective the wetter you get them, one thing to note is that they dry very, very stiff—and do look a bit strange. But that can be easily remedied once you re-wet them.

Material: 100% silk | Size: Small | Absorbency: Not very absorbent | Colors: Light purple | Machine Washable: No

Is there anything more luxurious than using 100% silk on your face? We don’t think so, which is why this washcloth earned a score of five for texture and feel. It’s one of the least irritating washcloths I tested, and I love how tiny it is, making it perfect for on-the-go use. Another bonus? It can be used wet or dry.

It didn’t rank high from an exfoliating perspective; after all, silk just isn’t that exfoliating. However, where it’s lacking in exfoliation, it makes up for in makeup removal: Although it didn’t get all my makeup off (that pesky mascara!), the fact that it can remove foundation, cheek tint, and concealer even while dry is enough to score a five in my book. The soothing purple color is a nice touch.

One issue I had with this washcloth is that it’s not machine washable; I love to be able to throw everything in the laundry when it needs a good cleaning. It’s also pretty pricey: $70 (!) for a five-pack is a hefty price to pay for washcloths. But hey, no one ever said silk was cheap!

Material: 67% cotton, 15% lyocell, 15% rayon made from bamboo, 3% silverback polyester | Size: Medium | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: White | Machine Washable: Yes

A super-soft washcloth that also fights acne? I’ll take it. I was impressed by how soothing this washcloth was on my skin, especially given the fact that it’s designed to kill acne-causing bacteria. Also impressive? Its ability to remove makeup. It quickly took off my tinted moisturizer, mascara, and cheek tint. While it didn’t immediately remove my mascara, with enough work, it finally did, which is more than I can say for most washcloths.

Another huge bonus is that it’s machine washable. The downsides? When it came to exfoliation, I wasn’t blown away. Plus, ringing it at $35 per cloth, it’s on the pricey side.

Material: Ultra-fine microfiber | Size: Small | Absorbency: Relatively absorbent | Colors: Black | Machine Washable: Yes

The standout feature of this washcloth is how well it removes makeup. It was the only one of the bunch that removed my waterproof mascara quickly and easily, thanks to the high-performance, ultra-fine microfiber it’s made of. But while it’s certainly soft, it doesn’t have the super-luxurious feel other washcloths did, earning itself a score of three for texture and feel. Luckily, that isn’t the most important thing for me; I care more about whether it gets the job done from an exfoliation and makeup removal perspective.

Speaking of exfoliation, I didn’t find this washcloth to be super exfoliating, but my skin did feel nice and clean and not at all dry or irritated after using. I also love how compact these are and the fact that I can toss them into the washing machine with a load of laundry.

Material: 100% cotton| Size: Medium | Absorbency: Somewhat absorbent | Colors: White | Machine Washable: Yes

There’s a lot to love about these washcloths from Eve Lom. They’re made from 100% cotton, they feel clean and crisp on the skin, they’re machine-washable, and at $22 for a three-pack, they’re pretty affordable. I went into testing them hyper-focused on makeup removal, but I was surprised to find that exfoliation is where they really shined. They’re truly effective, earning a score of five for buffing away dead skin and debris.

But here’s where I warn you: Be careful and don’t scrub too hard with these muslin cloths, as my face felt a bit dry after using. Other than that, I liked them. They adequately remove makeup, taking off everything aside from my mascara relatively easily.

Material: 90% rayon made from bamboo, 10% cotton | Size: Small | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: Available in seven colors | Machine Washable: Yes

Simply put, I loved this washcloth. While it didn’t remove all my makeup (I gave it a four), nor was it super exfoliating (it’s designed for newborns, so that makes sense—I gave it a three), it was so soft and soothing on my skin.

Made from bamboo, these washcloths are some of the softest out there, so it should go without saying that I gave it a five for texture and feel. Their skin-smoothing, gentle nature also makes them a great option for anyone with sensitive or finicky skin. Plus, the little panda designs on the packaging are so cute—I’m a big fan!

Material: 100% Egyptian cotton | Size: Small | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: Available in seven colors | Machine Washable: Yes

First things first: This is a very standard washcloth without many bells and whistles. It's made from 100% Egyptian cotton, so it's somewhat soft, but it also left my skin feeling a little dry afterward. In terms of cleansing and makeup removal, it did a pretty standard job, wiping away most of my makeup (but not all), and it does a decent—but not amazing job—exfoliating.

The main takeaway from this washcloth is that it will clean your face well, but probably won't blow you away in any way. It's a solid, reliable basic with a pretty reasonable price tag, considering the material.

Material: 100% cotton | Size: Medium | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: Available in 8 different colors | Machine Washable: Yes

This is a very, very basic washcloth, but a reliable standby. In fact, it’s probably the washcloth you’ve been using your whole life. It’s not crazy soft, but not super rough either; it exfoliates, but not super well. It removes most makeup but leaves a little bit behind. Overall, if you’re looking for a very standard, bare-bones washcloth with no fancy promises, this is it. It doesn't hurt that it's machine washable and affordable, too.

Material: 100% organic cotton | Size: Medium | Absorbency: Medium absorbency | Colors: White | Machine Washable: Yes

I’ve been a fan of Coyuchi for years, so I was excited to try this washcloth. It has a very chic look to it, thanks to the subtle gray stripe detail at the bottom, which I’m a big fan of. It just looks good hanging up in your bathroom.

In terms of function, it didn’t blow me away from a testing perspective. It removed most, but not all, of my makeup, and it did a great job exfoliating my face without leaving it dry or irritated. It wasn’t the softest or most luxurious washcloth I tried, but it was just soft enough.

One thing worth noting: It stains easily. It’s machine washable, so I threw it in the dryer, and my makeup was very visible on it afterward. So if you want it to maintain its chic look, I recommend using stain remover and rinsing it out before tossing it in your washer/dryer.

Material: 100% Asian Konjac Root | Size: Small | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: Off white | Machine Washable: No

Of all the washcloths I tested, this one intrigued me the most. Konjac root is known for its health benefits, and in this case, it aims to gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin. It’s extremely soft and luxurious, and in addition to cleansing, it does provide a mild (like, very mild) exfoliating effect. While it was fun to use, I was pretty let down when it came to makeup removal—it didn’t remove any of my makeup.

Overall, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this little sponge, but I do love that it’s affordable (it costs about $8), good for sensitive skin, and can be used over and over again.

Material: 100% Turkish cotton | Size: Medium to large-ish | Absorbency: Somewhat absorbent | Colors: Available in 12 colors | Machine Washable: Yes

Similar to Coyuchi, I’ve long been a fan of Brooklinen for years. I absolutely love their bathrobes and swear by their sheets, so I was very excited to try this washcloth. It was very soft and plush (scoring a perfect five in the texture and feel department) and removed makeup somewhat well—it didn’t pick up much, if any, of my mascara. While I wasn’t blown away, it did exfoliate my skin somewhat well, too.

The one downside to this washcloth (other than that it didn’t remove all my makeup) is that it’s a little on the large side; I personally like my washcloths to run a bit smaller! It’s also a tad pricey at $19 per cloth. Overall, where this washcloth really stands out is the feel. It’s incredibly plush—must be that 100% Turkish cotton.

FAQ

• Should you use a washcloth to wash your face?

  You don't necessarily need to wash your face using a washcloth, but you'll likely need one to dry off your face after cleansing it in the sink. That said, some people like to use washcloths to gently cleanse by lathering cleanser over their skin, and others use them for physical exfoliation. To keep things clean and prevent bacteria and mildew, you might consider using a fresh washcloth each day. In that case, you'll want relatively small cloths—no more than roughly 12 x 12 inches.

• How do you use a washcloth to cleanse your face?

  Typically, you’ll want to first wet the washcloth, although some can be used dry. Next, use gentle, circular motions to help remove dirt, makeup, and other impurities from your face. Afterward, gently pat dry and apply a moisturizer. You can use a washcloth with or without a cleanser.

• How do you clean a washcloth for your face?

  It depends on the washcloth. Some have to air dry, while others are machine washable. If you don’t want them to stain, be sure to rinse thoroughly and/or apply a stain remover before washing.

• How often should you replace your washcloths for your face?

  How often you'll need to replace your washcloths depends on how often you use them and what they're made of, but a year is generally a good timeframe. If they lose their absorbency or the texture becomes too rough, swap it out for something softer.

• What type of washcloth is best for the face?

  It depends on how you're cleaning your skin and what you're trying to achieve, but generally speaking, a cotton or microfiber washcloth is best for the face. Both materials are soft and absorbent, making them suitable for both cleansing and drying. Beyond that, a more textured fabric like terry cloth cotton will be better for exfoliation because it helps slough off dead skin cells, whereas a smoother surface is ideal for gentle cleansing.

• Are microfiber cloths good for the face?

  Microfiber cloths are an excellent choice for cleansing and drying the face. Woven from polyester and polyamide, the synthetic fabric is exceptionally soft and absorbent. It's also relatively thin compared to terry cloth cotton towels, so a stack of microfiber washcloths on your bathroom counter will take up less space.